Cartridge Encryption Key Storage via Shared Control Board
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Solution Overview
Problem
In secure data storage systems where storage cartridges lack independent read/write control electronics, there is a challenge in securely storing and managing encryption keys without compromising data security, especially when these resources are shared across multiple drives.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves storing encryption keys either on the storage cartridge or remotely, using a shared control board that retrieves unique device identifiers from the cartridges to authenticate and manage encryption keys, ensuring secure data access and protection by encrypting and decrypting data with a private key associated with each device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If storage cartridges lack independent read/write control electronics to reduce cost and simplify cartridge design, then manufacturing cost and device complexity are reduced, but secure key storage and management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the read/write control electronics from the storage cartridges and places them on a shared control board. This removes the complexity of having independent control electronics in each cartridge while maintaining security through centralized key management on the control board. The encryption keys are stored in the encryption circuit on the control board, not in the cartridges themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The shared control board serves multiple functions: it controls read/write operations for multiple cartridges, manages encryption keys for all cartridges, and provides authentication. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for duplicate control electronics in each cartridge while maintaining security through centralized management.
2Productivity
If encryption keys are stored centrally on a shared control board to simplify management, then key management efficiency is improved, but security risk increases if the control board is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the encryption keys by associating each key with a unique cartridge identifier. The encryption circuit on the control board stores multiple keys but only makes them accessible through authentication with the corresponding cartridge. This segmentation maintains centralized management efficiency while reducing the impact of potential compromise to individual cartridge-key pairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The encryption circuit on the control board acts as an intermediary between the cartridges and the encrypted data. It authenticates cartridges using their unique identifiers and public keys, then provides access to the appropriate encryption keys. This intermediary layer enables efficient centralized management while protecting the actual data keys through cryptographic authentication.
3Reliability
If public key authentication is implemented for each cartridge to ensure security, then data protection is improved, but authentication overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-registering each cartridge's unique identifier and public key in the encryption circuit on the control board during manufacturing or initialization. When a cartridge is inserted, the authentication process is streamlined because the cryptographic credentials are already in place, reducing authentication overhead while maintaining strong security.
Data Source
AI summary
A secure cartridge-based storage system includes a set of read/write control electronics on a control board adapted to removably couple with each of a plurality of storage cartridges. The read/write control electronics are adapted to transmit a public key to a target storage cartridge in response to a read/write command received from a host device. The target storage cartridge includes and encryption circuit that authenticates the transmitted public key against a stored public key, accesses a locally-stored encryption key responsive to successful authentication of the public key; and utilizes the locally-stored encryption key to encrypt or decrypt data of the read/write command that is in transit between the storage media and the control board.